READING businessman Kiren Sharma spent much of his time in the hydrotherapy pool at Reading's Battle Hospital as he recovered from serious injuries suffered in a crash crash.

Among the hospital staff who nursed him back to health was physio Alan Mitchell.

They got chatting one day about another of Mitchell's roles - that as a coach to the Great Britain women's underwater hockey team.

Mitchell discovered that Sharma, the boss of Gravity Personnel, had a lot of connections in the town and asked him about the best ways of trying to find some much-needed funds for his team who receive no financial support from any authority.

But, as he wanted to show some appreciation of his treatment from Mitchell, Sharma decided to give the team money out of his own pocket.

"It is a wonderful gesture," said Mitchell after collecting a "substantial amount" from Sharma, who was nearly killed in the crash involving a lorry in Sulham last September.

"The team has qualified for the world championships in Canada in July and that is going to cost us close to £2,500.

"We get no funding and the girls have to pay their own way. Some of them are schoolgirls and simply cannot afford to go.

"So we desperately need some financial help and Kiren has been extremely generous."

Sharma said: "I am only too pleased to help out. I am making good progress (from my injuries) and was helped enormously by all the time I spent with Alan in the hydrotherapy pool at Battle."

Mitchell added: "My goal now is to get Kiren back playing sport again."

Sharma hopes to be back playing hockey for Phoenix and Ranelagh in September."

The GB team, who were bronze medalists in last year's European Championships in Yugoslavia, train at pools around the country, including Queen Anne's School in Caversham.

They are preparing for international matches against Holland at West Ealing next month.

Their squad includes one Reading player, Karen Lynch and she was joined at Battle Hospital's hydrotherapy pool by Bedford's Helen Field and Southampton's Sarah Liscoe.